Development and validation of the COVID-19 Impact Scale in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted and continues to impact the health and well-being of Australian adults. However, there has been no instrument validated to comprehensively measure how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted adults in Australia across several domains (e.g. fear of COVID-19, attitudes towards vaccination, psychosocial impact of lockdowns).The current study conducted a rigorous psychometric process to develop and validate an instrument to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the COVID-19 Impact Scale (CIS). METHOD: Data was obtained from the Australian population. Participants (N = 563) aged between 19 and 91 years (M = 54.50, SD = 16.16) provided online responses between June, 2021 and May, 2022. The majority of participants were female (60.9%), employed either full-time (37.7%) or part-time (22.0%), and had completed an undergraduate degree or higher (70.1%). An initial pool of 30 items was developed based on a review of the literature and input from a panel of experts including psychologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts, among others. The study used network psychometrics to examine the psychometric properties of: (1) item score distributions; (2) item redundancy; (3) dimensionality; (4) model fit; (5) measurement invariance; (6) reliability; and (7) criterion validity. RESULTS: Following an evaluation of items for ceiling/floor effects and redundancy, the final CIS network model included eighteen nodes and displayed a three-dimensional structure. The three communities of "Fear" (consisting of three nodes; ω = 0.82), "Attitudes" (consisting of ten nodes; ω = 0.89), and "Ill-being" (consisting of five nodes; ω = 0.79) displayed adequate reliability. The evaluation of model fit indicated a good fit of the network model (RMSEA = 0.047; CFI =0.98). CONCLUSION: The instrument is available to be used by Australian researchers and implemented to evaluate public policies, adapted for future pandemics, or used internationally.

Trauma-informed mental health practice during COVID-19: Reflections from a Community of Practice initiative.

This article discusses insights arising from a Community of Practice (CoP) initiative within a mental health short stay inpatient unit adjacent to a major Emergency Department to explore how COVID-19 has influenced engagement and support of people in mental distress. The present initiative was designed as a collaboration between the University of South Australia and SA Health. Community of Practice (CoP) is combined with a narrative review of current evidence to explain specific nursing care responses within an operating environment of pandemic-induced fear and uncertainty. Meetings discussed the challenges associated with delivering mental health care for people experiencing mental health distress in the COVID-19 context. Applying trauma-informed principles to mental health care delivery was identified to be of relevance in the context of an ongoing pandemic. Humanizing nursing care and increasing people's sense of predictability and safety contributed to therapeutic engagement and support during COVID-19. Factors discussed to mitigate the effects of safety measures include, for example, nuanced verbal and non-verbal engagement of health workers with people in mental distress when wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). We highlight the need to 'humanise' nursing and openly communicating that both practitioners and people in distress are navigating special circumstances. The CoP participants additionally acknowledged that the experience of moral distress among frontline health workers needs to be addressed in future policy responses to COVID-19. Person-centred and trauma-informed responses at the point of care might help to mitigate the pandemic short- and long-term effects for both service users and frontline health workers.

Psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L for aboriginal Australians: a multi-method study.

INTRODUCTION: In Australia, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments have been adopted in national population surveys to inform policy decisions that affect the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. However, Western-developed HRQoL instruments should not be assumed to capture Indigenous conceptualization of health and well-being. In our study, following recommendations for cultural adaptation, an Indigenous Reference Group indicated the EQ-5D-5L as a potentially valid instrument to measure aspects of HRQoL and endorsed further psychometric evaluation. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the construct validity and reliability of the EQ-5D-5L in an Aboriginal Australian population. METHODS: The EQ-5D-5L was applied in a sample of 1012 Aboriginal adults. Dimensionality was evaluated using Exploratory Graph Analysis. The Partial Credit Model was employed to evaluate item performance and adequacy of response categories. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to investigate discriminant validity regarding chronic pain, general health and experiences of discrimination. RESULTS: The EQ-5D-5L comprised two dimensions, Physiological and Psychological, and reliability was adequate. Performance at an item level was excellent and the EQ-5D-5L individual items displayed good discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The EQ-5D-5L is a suitable instrument to measure five specific aspects (Mobility, Self-Care, Usual activities, Pain/Discomfort, Anxiety/Depression) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HRQoL. A future research agenda comprises the investigation of other domains of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HRQoL and potential expansions to the instrument.

Cohort profile: South Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort (SAABC)-a prospective longitudinal birth cohort.

PURPOSE: The South Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort (SAABC) is a prospective, longitudinal birth cohort established to: (1) estimate Aboriginal child dental disease compared with population estimates; (2) determine the efficacy of an early childhood caries intervention in early versus late infancy; (3) examine if efficacy was sustained over time and; (4) document factors influencing social, behavioural, cognitive, anthropometric, dietary and educational attainment over time. PARTICIPANTS: The original SAABC comprised 449 women pregnant with an Aboriginal child recruited February 2011 to May 2012. At child age 2 years, 324 (74%) participants were retained, at age 3 years, 324 (74%) participants were retained and at age 5 years, 299 (69%) participants were retained. Fieldwork for follow-up at age 7 years is underway, with funding available for follow-up at age 9 years. FINDINGS TO DATE: At baseline, 53% of mothers were aged 14-24 years and 72% had high school or less educational attainment. At age 3 years, dental disease experience was higher among children exposed to the intervention later rather than earlier in infancy. The effect was sustained at age 5 years, but rates were still higher than general child population estimates. Experiences of racism were high among mothers, with impacts on both tooth brushing and toothache. Compared with population estimates, levels of self-efficacy and self-rated oral health of mothers at baseline were low. FUTURE PLANS: Our data have contributed to a better understanding of the environmental, behavioural, dietary, biological and psychosocial factors contributing to Aboriginal child oral and general health, and social and emotional well-being. This is beneficial in charting the trajectory of cohort participants' health and well-being overtime, particularly in identifying antecedents of chronic diseases which are highly prevalent among Aboriginal Australians. Funding for continued follow-up of the cohort will be sought. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12611000111976; Post-results.

Development and initial psychometric assessment of the race-related attitudes and multiculturalism scale in Australia.

AIM: The present study aims to develop the Race-related Attitudes and Multiculturalism Scale (RRAMS), as well as to perform an initial psychometric assessment of this instrument in a national sample of Australian adults. METHODS: The sample comprised 2,714 Australian adults who took part in the 2013 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey (NDTIS), which includes a telephone-based interview and a follow-up postal questionnaire. We used Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to evaluate the RRAMS' factorial structure (n = 271) and then proceeded with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to confirm the proposed structure in an independent sample (n = 2,443). Measurement invariance was evaluated according to sex, age and educational attainment. Construct validity was assessed through known-groups comparisons. Internal consistency was assessed with McDonald's ΩH and ordinal α. Multiple imputation by chained equations was adopted to handle missing data. RESULTS: EFA indicated that, after excluding 4 out of the 12 items, a two-factor structure provided a good fit to the data. This configural structure was then confirmed in an independent sample by means of CFA (χ2(19) = 341.070, p<0.001, CFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.083; 90% CI [0.076, 0.091]). Measurement invariance analyses suggested that the RRAMS items can be used to compare men/women, respondents with/without tertiary education and young/older participants. The "Anglo-centric/Assimilationist attitudes" (ΩH = 0.83, αORDINAL = 0.85) and "Inclusive/Pluralistic attitudes" subscales (ΩH = 0.77, αORDINAL = 0.79) showed adequate reliability. Men and participants with low education had higher Anglo-centric/assimilationist attitudes and lower inclusive/pluralistic attitudes, suggesting construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: The RRAMS appears to be a valid and reliable measure to evaluate multiculturalist attitudes in the Australian context. The instrument may be useful in the assessment and monitoring of interventions aiming to promote multiculturalist inclusive attitudes and to increase social cohesion in Australia.

Characterization of Child Maltreatment Cases Identified in Health Services / Caracterização de Casos de Maus-Tratos Infantis Identificados em Serviços de Saúde / Caracterización de los Casos de Maltrato Infantil Identificados en Servicios de Salud

Abstract Child maltreatment is a severe Public Health issue. To understand its associated factors, our study analyzed 14.564 cases of child maltreatment recorded in the state of Rio Grande do Sul between 2010 and 2014. In our study, we analyzed immediate contextual aspects (child's gender and developmental stage, perpetrator's gender, family relationship between the victim and the perpetrator) and intermediate aspects (health professionals' response). Chi-square analysis showed that girls were more likely to be vulnerable to sexual and psychological abuse, especially in middle childhood. Boys, on the other hand, were more likely to experience neglect in infancy and physical abuse in middle childhood. Males were the main perpetrators. Our results are discussed, based on a theoretical review of the sociocultural conceptions of child developmental characteristics, parenting practices, and gender roles. We suggest changes in the notification process and case referral.

Resumo Os maus-tratos infantis são um grave problema de saúde pública. A fim de elucidar fatores associados à sua ocorrência, no presente estudo foram analisados 14.564 casos de maus tratos contra crianças reportados no Rio Grande do Sul entre 2010 e 2014. Foram analisados aspectos que operam em níveis contextuais imediatos (gênero da criança e fase do desenvolvimento, sexo do perpetrador, parentesco entre a vítima e perpetrador) e intermediários (respostas do profissional da saúde) dos casos reportados. Resultados de qui quadrado demonstraram que meninas tendem a ser vulneráveis ao abuso sexual e psicológico, principalmente durante a terceira infância. Meninos tendem a ser expostos a maus tratos físicos, na terceira infância, e à negligência na primeira infância. Homens foram os principais agressores identificados. Os resultados são discutidos com base em revisão teórica sobre concepções socioculturais de características desenvolvimentais infantis, práticas parentais e papéis de gênero. Sugerem-se modificações no processo de notificação e encaminhamento dos casos.

Resumen El maltrato infantil es un grave problema de salud pública. Con el fin de exponer los factores asociados a su ocurrencia, en el presente estudio se analizaron 14.564 casos de maltrato infantil reportados en Rio Grande do Sul entre 2010 y 2014. Se analizaron aspectos que operan a niveles contextuales inmediatos (género del niño y etapa de desarrollo, sexo del perpetrador, parentesco entre la víctima y el perpetrador) e intermediarios (respuestas del profesional de la salud) de los casos reportados. Los resultados del chi-cuadrado mostraron que las niñas tienden a ser vulnerables al abuso sexual y psicológico, especialmente durante su tercera infancia. Los niños tienden a ser expuestos al maltrato físico en la tercera infancia y a la negligencia en la primera infancia. Los principales agresores identificados fueron los hombres. Los resultados se discuten en base a una revisión teórica sobre las concepciones socioculturales de las características del desarrollo infantil, las prácticas parentales y los roles de género. Se sugieren modificaciones en el proceso de notificación y el direccionamiento de casos.

Ethnic-racial identity affirmation: Validation in Aboriginal Australian children.

INTRODUCTION: Positive attitudes towards ethnic-racial identity (ERI) is a key factor in Aboriginal Australian children's development. The present study aims to offer evidence of construct and criterion validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of a brief measure of Aboriginal children's ERI affirmation. METHODS: Data was from 424 children aged 10-12 years (mean 10.5 years; SD 0.56) participating in the 8th wave of the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC). Information on ERI was obtained from 4 child-reported items. Sociodemographic characteristics and child social and emotional outcomes were caregiver-reported. A factorial structure was tested by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The estimation method was weighted least squares with mean and variance adjusted test statistic (WLSMV). For reliability verification, the ordinal α and Ω hierarchical α were assessed. For construct validity, a generalized linear model with log-Poisson link estimated the association between ERI and children's social and emotional outcomes. We hypothesized that children with positive ERI would have lower behavioural and emotional difficulties. RESULTS: We found evidence of excellent fit for a unidimensional model of ERI affirmation after adjusting for correlated uniqueness between items 1 and 3 (χ2(2) = 0.06, p = 0.80; RMSEA = 0.000 [90% CI 0.000-0.080], p = 0.088; CFI = 1.000). Internal consistency reliability was considered adequate (ordinal α = 0.83; Ω hierarchical α = 0.72). The unidimensional model was shown to be invariant among boys and girls (Δχ2 (4) = 6.20, p = 0.18; ΔCFI = 0.000). Higher ERI was associated with lower risk of problematic scores (>17) on the SDQ (Risk Ratioa = 0.91, 95% CI 0.64, 1.29). DISCUSSION: The four LSIC items perform as a brief measure of Aboriginal children ERI affirmation among boys and girls. Results contribute much needed evidence for LSIC's ongoing success and to future research on Aboriginal children's development and wellbeing.

[Systematic review of studies on reports of violence against children and adolescents in Brazil]. / Revisão sistemática de estudos sobre registros de violência contra crianças e adolescentes no Brasil.

This systematic review investigates how violence against children and adolescents data have been accessed, analyzed and discussed in Health scientific literature in Brazil. A sample of 50 articles, based in violence cases registered in the period from 1990 to 2015, was selected throughout the bases SciELO, PePSIC, Lilacs, Web of Science e Scopus. The analysis of frequency distribution pointed out that the major document typology consulted was the violence notification to the Guardianship Council. Characteristics of victims and of the violence situation were the most frequently analyzed. The data set permitted infer about the evolution of the violence epidemiological vigilance in the period considered. The Thematic Analysis showed that data was discussed in relation to the different contextual levels in which violence is manifested. The high absence of the information registered and the inexistence of psychosocial variables precedents to the violent situations interfered in the appliance of recent theoretical models.

A presente revisão sistemática investiga como registros de violência contra crianças e adolescentes, no Brasil, são acessados, analisados e discutidos em artigos científicos da área da saúde. Foram selecionados 50 artigos das bases SciELO, PePSIC, LILACS, Web of Science e Scopus baseados em dados do período de 1990 a 2015. A análise de distribuição de frequência caracterizou os registros utilizados nas publicações. Identificou-se que o documento mais utilizado foi a notificação de violência ao Conselho Tutelar. As características das vítimas e das situações de violência foram as mais frequentemente analisadas. Os dados observados informaram sobre a evolução das políticas de vigilância epidemiológica da violência no país. Por meio da Análise Temática, constatou-se que os dados foram discutidos e relacionados aos diferentes níveis contextuais em que se manifesta a violência. Os resultados mostram elevados índices de informações ausentes entre os registros, bem como desconhecimento de variáveis psicossociais anteriores às situações de violência que interferem na testagem dos dados a partir de modelos teóricos atuais.

Revisão sistemática de estudos sobre registros de violência contra crianças e adolescentes no Brasil / Systematic review of studies on reports of violence against children and adolescents in Brazil

Resumo A presente revisão sistemática investiga como registros de violência contra crianças e adolescentes, no Brasil, são acessados, analisados e discutidos em artigos científicos da área da saúde. Foram selecionados 50 artigos das bases SciELO, PePSIC, LILACS, Web of Science e Scopus baseados em dados do período de 1990 a 2015. A análise de distribuição de frequência caracterizou os registros utilizados nas publicações. Identificou-se que o documento mais utilizado foi a notificação de violência ao Conselho Tutelar. As características das vítimas e das situações de violência foram as mais frequentemente analisadas. Os dados observados informaram sobre a evolução das políticas de vigilância epidemiológica da violência no país. Por meio da Análise Temática, constatou-se que os dados foram discutidos e relacionados aos diferentes níveis contextuais em que se manifesta a violência. Os resultados mostram elevados índices de informações ausentes entre os registros, bem como desconhecimento de variáveis psicossociais anteriores às situações de violência que interferem na testagem dos dados a partir de modelos teóricos atuais.

Abstract This systematic review investigates how violence against children and adolescents data have been accessed, analyzed and discussed in Health scientific literature in Brazil. A sample of 50 articles, based in violence cases registered in the period from 1990 to 2015, was selected throughout the bases SciELO, PePSIC, Lilacs, Web of Science e Scopus. The analysis of frequency distribution pointed out that the major document typology consulted was the violence notification to the Guardianship Council. Characteristics of victims and of the violence situation were the most frequently analyzed. The data set permitted infer about the evolution of the violence epidemiological vigilance in the period considered. The Thematic Analysis showed that data was discussed in relation to the different contextual levels in which violence is manifested. The high absence of the information registered and the inexistence of psychosocial variables precedents to the violent situations interfered in the appliance of recent theoretical models.

Violence against Women: Notifications of Health Professionals in Rio Grande do Sul / Violência contra Mulher: Notificações dos Profissionais da Saúde no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the situations of violence against women reported by health professionals in Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 20.999 reports were performed between 2010 and 2014. The most frequent reports included women aged 19 to 29 years old. The most frequent type of violence was physical, and the victim's residence was the most frequent place. Most of perpetrators were male, partner or ex-partner of the victim. Women were referred more frequently to clinics and police station. The results can support strategies for prevention and coping violence against women. The study allowed identifying weaknesses in the report information, as well as in the referrals made, indicating the need for investments in the training of health professionals.

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar as situações de violência contra mulheres notificadas pelos profissionais da saúde no Rio Grande do Sul. Foram analisadas 20.999 notificações realizadas entre 2010 e 2014. As notificações incluíram, com maior frequência, mulheres de 19 a 29 anos. A violência física foi a mais predominante, sendo a residência da vítima o principal local de ocorrência. A maioria dos agressores era do gênero masculino, parceiros ou ex-parceiros íntimos. As mulheres foram encaminhadas com maior frequência para ambulatórios e delegacias. Os resultados podem subsidiar estratégias para prevenção e enfrentamento da violência contra a mulher. O estudo permitiu identificar fragilidades nas informações notificadas, bem como nos encaminhamentos realizados, indicando a necessidade de investimentos na capacitação dos profissionais da saúde.

Álcool, direção automotiva e o Programa Vida Urgente na visão de jovens voluntários / Vida Urgente Program, alcohol and driving: young volunteers' view

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar as representações sociais dos jovens voluntários do Programa Vida Urgente, do Espírito Santo, acerca do trabalho por eles realizado. Foram realizadas 20 entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado objetivando conhecer a opinião sobre os efeitos da própria atuação e a visão que possuem do programa. Para tanto foram entrevistados jovens de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 15 e 26 anos, posteriormente divididos em dois grupos com base no critério de tempo de atuação nas ações do Programa: G1 - 06 a 12 meses e G2 - acima de 12 meses. Por meio da análise de conteúdo, verificou-se que a afinidade com a proposta do trabalho voluntário e a valorização do discurso da conscientização são alguns dos motivos para o ingresso no Programa. Os entrevistados informaram ter identificado maior receptividade no público-alvo, o que é percebido por eles como uma mudança positiva no comportamento dos motoristas abordados.(AU)

This study's goal is to analyze the social representations of the young volunteers of Vida Urgente Program of Espírito Santo about the work developed by them. 20 interviews were carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire with the objective to know the opinion about the effects of their performance and the vision they possess about the program. For such, 20 participants of both sexes with ages from 15 to 26 years were interviewed, subsequently divided into two groups according to the time of participation in the Program: G1 - 06 to 12 months and G2 - above 12 months. Using content analysis, it was verified that the affinity with the program's proposal of volunteer work and valorization of the speech of awareness are some of the reasons to enter the program. The respondents informed having identified larger receptivity from the target-public, which is perceived by them as a positive change on approached drivers.(AU)

Álcool, direção automotiva e o Programa Vida Urgente na visão de jovens voluntários / Vida Urgente Program, alcohol and driving: young volunteers' view

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar as representações sociais dos jovens voluntários do Programa Vida Urgente, do Espírito Santo, acerca do trabalho por eles realizado. Foram realizadas 20 entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado objetivando conhecer a opinião sobre os efeitos da própria atuação e a visão que possuem do programa. Para tanto foram entrevistados jovens de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 15 e 26 anos, posteriormente divididos em dois grupos com base no critério de tempo de atuação nas ações do Programa: G1 - 06 a 12 meses e G2 - acima de 12 meses. Por meio da análise de conteúdo, verificou-se que a afinidade com a proposta do trabalho voluntário e a valorização do discurso da conscientização são alguns dos motivos para o ingresso no Programa. Os entrevistados informaram ter identificado maior receptividade no público-alvo, o que é percebido por eles como uma mudança positiva no comportamento dos motoristas abordados.

This study's goal is to analyze the social representations of the young volunteers of Vida Urgente Program of Espírito Santo about the work developed by them. 20 interviews were carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire with the objective to know the opinion about the effects of their performance and the vision they possess about the program. For such, 20 participants of both sexes with ages from 15 to 26 years were interviewed, subsequently divided into two groups according to the time of participation in the Program: G1 - 06 to 12 months and G2 - above 12 months. Using content analysis, it was verified that the affinity with the program's proposal of volunteer work and valorization of the speech of awareness are some of the reasons to enter the program. The respondents informed having identified larger receptivity from the target-public, which is perceived by them as a positive change on approached drivers.